Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

ABSTRACT

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a monitor simultaneously displaying in blocks a series of examination items on an ultrasound diagnosis within a screen in chronological order and a controller causing the monitor to highlight a block of an examination item being currently executed among blocks indicating the series of examination items displayed on the monitor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus anda method of producing an ultrasound image. The invention moreparticularly relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus whichproduces an ultrasound image based on reception signals obtained bytransmission and reception of ultrasonic waves from and in an ultrasoundprobe and displays the produced ultrasound image on a monitor.

Heretofore, ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses that use ultrasound imageshave been put to practical use in the medical field. Generally in thistype of ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses, a transducer array of anultrasound probe transmits ultrasonic beams toward the inside of asubject and receives ultrasonic echoes from the subject, and adiagnostic apparatus body electrically processes reception signals toproduce an ultrasound image.

An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus has recently been developed whichperforms various examinations based on ultrasound images and assists inthe examinations themselves so that even an operator who lacksexperience and knowledge can perform the examinations. For example, JP2010-115478 A discloses an image diagnostic apparatus which aims atimproving the examination efficiency and displays an examinationprocedure on the monitor. JP 2005-270424 A and JP 2011-10689 A discloseultrasound diagnostic apparatuses in which an examination procedure(operation procedure) is registered in advance and an examination can beperformed according to the registered examination procedure.

With such ultrasound diagnostic apparatuses, even an operator who lacksexperience and knowledge can perform efficient examinations withoutbeing confused by the operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in cases where a produced ultrasound image is used to perform apreset series of examinations with a conventional ultrasound diagnosticapparatus, for example as shown in FIG. 9, all the blocks representingvarious examination items capable of examinations, examination sites, anexecution key, and the like are displayed on an operation display screenirrespective of whether or not the examinations are to be performed, andblocks corresponding to an examination being performed are onlyhighlighted. Although one can know the examination being performed bychecking the highlighted blocks, it was not possible to understand fromthe operation display screen to what extent a series of examinations areperformed or how many examination items still wait for examinations.

An object of the invention is to provide an ultrasound diagnosticapparatus capable of easily confirming, when an ultrasound image is usedto perform a series of examinations, to what extent the examinations areperformed.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention provides anultrasound diagnostic apparatus which transmits ultrasonic waves from anultrasound probe toward a subject, produces an ultrasound image in adiagnostic apparatus body based on reception data obtained and performsan examination based on the ultrasound image, the ultrasound diagnosticapparatus comprising: a monitor simultaneously displaying a series ofexamination items on an ultrasound diagnosis within a screen inchronological order; and a controller causing the monitor to highlightan examination item included in the series of examination items andbeing currently performed.

Preferably, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus further comprises aselector for allowing an operator to select an examination item fromamong the series of examination items displayed on the monitor and, inresponse to a selection of the examination item through the selector,the controller controls the diagnostic apparatus body such that theexamination item selected from among the series of examination items andits subsequent one or more examination items are executed.

The controller can control the diagnostic apparatus body such that theseries of examination items are started from the examination itemselected through the selector. In response to a selection of asubsequent examination item through the selector with one or morepreceding examination items still remaining unexecuted, the controllerpreferably controls the diagnostic apparatus body such that the one ormore preceding examination items still remaining unexecuted are skippedto execute the subsequent examination item.

In response to a selection of an already executed examination itemthrough the selector, the controller can also control the diagnosticapparatus body such that the already executed examination item selectedfrom among the series of examination items and its subsequent one ormore examination items are executed.

The controller may cause the monitor to display a number of preformedexaminations or a state of reflection of examination informationtogether with the examination item.

Preferably, the monitor and the selector each comprise a touch panel.

According to the invention, the monitor simultaneously displays a seriesof examination items on the ultrasound diagnosis within a screen inchronological order and the controller highlights a currently executedexamination item included in the series of examination items.Accordingly, it can be easily confirmed to what extent a series ofexaminations are performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ultrasound diagnostic apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of theultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the operation display inperforming a series of vascular examinations in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the operation display inperforming a series of obstetric examinations in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation display in selecting aspecified examination item in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a diagram schematically showing the positional relationshipbetween a mother's body and a fetus in the case where the fetus is notdeviated in position; and FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically showing thepositional relationship between a mother's body and a fetus in the casewhere the fetus is deviated in position.

FIGS. 7A to 7D are diagrams showing step by step the operation displayin checking the amount of amniotic fluid in Embodiment 3.

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing one block in the operation display inEmbodiment 4, examination information being reflected in the examinationitem of this block; and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a block of anexamination item for which the number of the already performedexaminations is reflected.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the operation display in a conventionalultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will be described below based on theaccompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment1 of the invention. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes anultrasound probe 1, and a diagnostic apparatus body 3 which is connectedto the ultrasound probe 1 via a communication cable 2.

The diagnostic apparatus body 3 includes a housing 4 and a cover 6rotatably attached to one end of the housing 4 via hinge portions 5. Thehousing 4 is substantially in the shape of a flat plate and has anoperating unit 7 formed on its surface to enable an operator to performvarious operations. A touch panel 9 is provided on the side of theoperating unit 7 closer to the hinge portions 5. The cover 6 is alsosubstantially in the shape of a flat plate and has an image monitor 8formed on the internal surface of the cover 6 which is opposed to theoperating unit 7 of the housing 4 by rotating it about the hingeportions 5.

The internal configurations of the ultrasound probe 1 and the diagnosticapparatus body 3 are shown in FIG. 2.

The ultrasound probe 1 has a transducer array 11, which is connected toa transmission circuit 12 and a reception circuit 13, which in turn areconnected to a probe controller 14.

The diagnostic apparatus body 3 includes a signal processor 21 connectedto the reception circuit 13 of the ultrasound probe 1 via thecommunication cable 2; the signal processor 21 is connected in sequenceto a DSC (Digital Scan Converter) 22, an image processor 23, a displaycontroller 24, and the image monitor 8. The image processor 23 isconnected to an image memory 25, and the signal processor 21, the DSC22, the image processor 23 and the image memory 25 constitute an imageproducer 26. A panel controller 27 is connected to the touch panel 9.

In addition, the signal processor 21, the DSC 22, the display controller24 and the panel controller 27 are connected to an apparatus bodycontroller 30, which in turn is connected to the operating unit 7, astorage unit 31, an examination memory 32 and the touch panel 9.

The probe controller 14 of the ultrasound probe 1 and the apparatus bodycontroller 30 of the diagnostic apparatus body 3 are connected to eachother via the communication cable 2.

The transducer array 11 of the ultrasound probe 1 includes aone-dimensional or two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducers.These ultrasound transducers each transmit ultrasonic waves to a subjectaccording to drive signals supplied from the transmission circuit 12,receive ultrasonic echoes from the subject and output reception signals.Each of the ultrasound transducers includes a vibrator having apiezoelectric body and electrodes provided on both ends of thepiezoelectric body, and the piezoelectric body is made of, for example,a piezoelectric ceramic material typified by PZT (lead zirconatetitanate), a piezoelectric polymer typified by PVDF (polyvinylidenefluoride) or a piezoelectric single crystal typified by PMN-PT (leadmagnesium niobate-lead titanate solid solution).

When a pulsed voltage or a continuous-wave voltage is applied to theelectrodes of such a vibrator, the piezoelectric body expands andcontracts to cause the vibrator to generate pulsed or continuousultrasonic waves and these ultrasonic waves are combined to form anultrasonic beam. Upon reception of propagating ultrasonic waves, thevibrator expands and contracts to produce electric signals, which arethen outputted as signals of the received ultrasonic waves.

The transmission circuit 12 includes, for example, a plurality ofpulsers and adjusts the delay amounts of drive signals based on atransmission delay pattern selected according to a control signal fromthe probe controller 14 so that the ultrasonic waves transmitted fromthe ultrasound transducers of the transducer array 11 form an ultrasonicbeam, and supplies the ultrasound transducers with adjusted drivesignals.

The reception circuit 13 subjects the reception signals transmitted fromthe ultrasound transducers of the transducer array 11 to amplificationand A/D conversion, and then performs reception focusing processing byproviding the reception signals with respective delays according to thesonic speed or sonic speed distribution that is set based on a receptiondelay pattern selected according to the control signal from the probecontroller 14 and adding them up. This reception focusing processingyields reception data (sound ray signals) where the ultrasonic echoesare well focused.

The probe controller 14 controls the respective components of theultrasound probe 1 based on various control signals transmitted from theapparatus body controller 30 of the diagnostic apparatus body 3.

The signal processor 21 of the diagnostic apparatus body 3 corrects theattenuation in the reception data produced by the reception circuit 13of the ultrasound probe 1 according to the distance, i.e., the depth atwhich the ultrasonic waves are reflected, and then performs envelopedetection processing to produce a B mode image signal, which istomographic image information on a tissue inside the subject's body.

The DSC 22 converts the B mode image signal produced in the signalprocessor 21 into an image signal compatible with an ordinary televisionsignal scanning mode (raster conversion).

The image processor 23 performs various necessary image processingincluding gradation processing on the B mode image signal entered fromthe DSC 22 before outputting the B mode image signal to the displaycontroller 24 or storing the B mode image signal in the image memory 25.

The display controller 24 causes the image monitor 8 to display anultrasound diagnostic image based on the B mode image signal havingundergone image processing in the image processor 23.

The image monitor 8 includes a display device such as an LCD, forexample, and displays an ultrasound diagnostic image under the controlof the display controller 24. At the time of examination, examinationtools such as a cursor and calipers are displayed as required in asuperimposed manner on an ultrasound diagnostic image.

The operating unit 7 is disposed on the surface of the housing 4 and hasvarious operating buttons with which an operator performs inputoperations.

The storage unit 31 stores, for example, operation programs andexamination programs including a series of examination items andrecording media such as a hard disk, a flexible disk, an MO, an MT, aRAM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, an SD card, a CF card, and a USB memory, and aserver may be used.

The examination memory 32 is a memory in which information on theexamination results including measured values obtained by theexaminations is stored.

The apparatus body controller 30 controls the respective components inthe diagnostic apparatus body 3 based on various instruction signalsentered by the operator using the operating unit 7.

The signal processor 21, the DSC 22, the image processor 23, the displaycontroller 24, and the panel controller 27 are each constituted by a CPUand an operation program for causing the CPU to perform various kinds ofprocessing, but they may be each constituted by a digital circuit.

The panel controller 27 causes the touch panel 9 to display an operationdisplay image corresponding to the series of examination items outputtedfrom the apparatus body controller 30.

The touch panel 9 is a device including the display function and theposition input function in combination, and a transparent membranesensor for detecting that an operator touched the display device such asan LCD is attached to the touch panel 9 so that a predeterminedoperation signal is outputted based on the representation on the displayand the position on the membrane sensor at which the operator touchedthe membrane sensor. Detection systems such as resistive system andcapacitive system may be used in the membrane sensor.

The operation entered using the touch panel 9 is outputted to theapparatus body controller 30 as an operation signal to cause theapparatus body controller 30 to perform a specified operation.

The touch panel 9 may be replaced by an operation monitor and anoperation selector.

Next, the operation of Embodiment 1 will be described.

Pressing a power switch provided in the operating unit 7 of the housing4 in the diagnostic apparatus body 3 causes electric power to besupplied to the respective components in the diagnostic apparatus body 3and the ultrasound probe 1 to start the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus.

The ultrasound transducers of the transducer array 11 sequentiallytransmit ultrasonic beams according to the drive signals from thetransmission circuit 12 of the ultrasound probe 1, and the receptionsignals received by the respective ultrasound transducers aresequentially outputted to the reception circuit 13, where reception datais produced. The image producer 26 of the diagnostic apparatus body 3produces image signals based on the reception data and the displaycontroller 24 causes the image monitor 8 to display an ultrasound imagebased on the image signals.

Next, a desired examination is performed based on the ultrasound imageproduced and displayed on the image monitor 8.

For example, a series of examination items for performing a series ofexaminations as shown in FIG. 3 are simultaneously displayed in blockswithin a screen in chronological order on the touch panel 9 of thehousing 4. The series of examination items are preset in a plurality ofexamination programs stored in the storage unit 31 and one examinationprogram can also be displayed by being invoked from the storage unit 31through the operating unit 7 and the apparatus body controller 30.Alternatively, the operating unit 7 or the touch panel 9 may be operatedto prepare a new series of examination items.

Highlighted blocks 41 and 42 in FIG. 3 indicate examination items forwhich an examination is currently performed.

Sequence block 40 in FIG. 3 indicates that a series of examination itemsare currently displayed in sequence on the touch panel 9. Thehighlighted Vascular block 41 indicates that a vascular examination iscurrently performed on an ultrasound image.

Blocks 42 to 47 arranged in chronological order indicate a series ofvascular examination items.

Lt. ScA Distance block 42 indicates an examination item for measuringthe distance of the left subclavian artery; Lt. RA Distance block 43 anexamination item for measuring the distance of the left radial artery;Lt. BA Area block 44 an examination item for measuring the area of theleft brachial artery; and Lt. Graft prox. Distance block 45, Lt. Graftmid. Distance block 46 and Lt. Graft dist. Distance block 47 examinationitems for measuring the distances of the left arterial graft,respectively.

In FIG. 3, the Lt. ScA Distance block 42 is currently highlighted, whichshows that, of the series of examination items simultaneously displayedwithin a screen in chronological order, the examination for measuringthe distance of the left subclavian artery is performed.

In this case, for example, the apparatus body controller 30 causes,through the display controller 24, the image monitor 8 to display acaliper for measuring the left subclavian artery in a superimposedmanner on the ultrasound image; and the operator manipulates theoperating unit 7 to operate the caliper to thereby measure the distanceof the left subclavian artery seen on the ultrasound image. Theapparatus body controller 30 measures the distance, for example, basedon two positions determined by the caliper.

Upon measurement of the distance of the left subclavian artery, theapparatus body controller 30 causes the examination memory 32 to storedistance information of the left subclavian artery and also causes,through the display controller 24, the image monitor 8 to display thedistance information. Upon completion of the measurement of the distanceof the left subclavian artery, the apparatus body controller 30 returnsthe Lt. ScA Distance block 42 to normal display and highlights the Lt.RA Distance block 43 which indicates the next examination item.

The apparatus body controller 30 causes, through the display controller24, the image monitor 8 to display a caliper for measuring the distanceof the left radial artery in a superimposed manner on the ultrasoundimage. This operation and its subsequent operations are the same asthose in the case of measuring the distance of the left subclavianartery.

When the subsequent operations are performed in the same manner tocomplete the examinations for all the series of examination items in theblocks 42 to 47 displayed on the touch panel 9 and store informationbased on the examinations in the examination memory 32, the series ofexaminations based on the ultrasound image are finished.

In Embodiment 1, the series of examination items are simultaneouslydisplayed within a screen in chronological order and examination itemsfor which an examination is currently performed are highlighted.Therefore, the operator can know at first sight to what extent theseries of examinations are performed and the series of examinations canbe performed with high efficiency.

Embodiment 2

Next, the operation of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according toEmbodiment 2 of the invention which is capable of changing the startposition of a series of examinations will be described by illustrating aseries of examinations commonly used in obstetrics. The configuration ofthe ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 2 is thesame as that of the apparatus according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation display of the touch panel 9 inthe case of performing the series of examinations commonly used inobstetrics. Sequence block 50 and OB Routine block 51 in FIG. 4 indicatethat the series of examination items stored in advance in the ultrasounddiagnostic apparatus and commonly used in obstetrics are currentlydisplayed in sequence on the touch panel 9.

In FIG. 4, GS block 52 indicates an examination item for checking thegestational sac; CRL block 53 an examination item for measuring thecrown rump length; BPD block 54 an examination item for measuring thebiparietal diameter; AC block 55 an examination item for measuring theabdominal circumference; and FL block 56 an examination item formeasuring the femur length.

Of the series of examination items shown in FIG. 4, the highlightedfirst GS block 52 indicates the default start position and the series ofexaminations are usually started from the examination for checking thegestational sac in the GS block 52.

Of the series of examination items GS, CRL, BPD, AC and FL commonly usedin obstetrics, subjects in the first trimester of pregnancy are examinedonly for the examination items GS, CRL and BPD and subjects in thesecond trimester of pregnancy are examined only for the examinationitems BPD, AC and FL.

Therefore, according to Embodiment 2, the start position of the seriesof examinations can be changed depending on the pregnancy stage ofsubjects.

In the case of a subject in the second trimester of pregnancy, of theseries of examination blocks displayed on the touch panel 9, theoperator touches the BPD block 54 to select the examination item BPD asshown in FIG. 4, thereby changing the examination start position to theexamination item BPD as shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, theapparatus body controller 30 receives an operation signal from the touchpanel 9 and highlights the BPD block 54 of the touch panel 9 through thepanel controller 27.

Upon change of the start position to the BPD block 54, the apparatusbody controller 30 controls the display controller 24 and the imagemonitor 8 as above to display a caliper or the like necessary for themeasurement on the ultrasound image in a superimposed manner.

Although not shown, a subject in the first trimester of pregnancyundergoes examinations in the examination items GS and CRL before endingwith the examination in the examination item BPD. An instruction for theexamination end is issued through the operating unit 7 or the touchpanel 9 after the measurement is performed.

In Embodiment 2, the examination start position can be thus changed inthe series of examinations to avoid unnecessary examinations, therebyreducing the burden on subjects while increasing the examinationefficiency.

Of the series of examination items, the above-described default startposition can also be changed in advance. For example, the default startposition may be changed in advance from the GS block 52 to the BPD block54 to mainly examine subjects in the second and third trimesters ofpregnancy.

Embodiment 3

Next, the operation of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according toEmbodiment 3 of the invention which is capable of skipping a specifiedexamination will be described by illustrating a series of examinationsfor measuring the amount of amniotic fluid. The configuration of theultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 3 is also thesame as that of the apparatus according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

As shown in FIG. 6A, when a fetus B is positioned near the center of amother's body M, the amount of amniotic fluid L is calculated bymeasuring the depths of the free spaces in areas Q1 to Q4 shown in FIG.6A and summing them up.

However, if the fetus B is, for example, deviated in position toward thearea Q3 among the areas Q1 to Q4 of the mother's body M as shown in FIG.6B, the area Q3 has a small distance between the measurement point andthe fetus and hence does not have enough depth to enable the measurementto be performed. Therefore the measurement in the area Q3 is notnecessary.

FIGS. 7A to 7D show examples of the operation display of the touch panel9 in the case of the examination for measuring the amount of amnioticfluid. In FIGS. 7A to 7D, AFI block 61 indicates the examination of theamniotic fluid index, and a series of blocks including Q1 block 62 to Q4block 65 indicate examination items corresponding to the positions ofthe areas Q1 to Q4 in the mother's body M shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

If it is known that the fetus is deviated toward the area Q3, theexaminations in the examination items Q1 and Q2 are performed as shownin FIGS. 7A and 7B, and when the Q3 block 64 indicating the nextexamination item is highlighted as shown in FIG. 7C, the operatortouches the Q4 block 65 of the touch panel 9 to select the examinationitem Q4, thereby enabling the unnecessary examination item Q3 to beskipped to transfer to the subsequent examination item Q4 as shown inFIG. 7D. More specifically, the apparatus body controller 30 receives anoperation signal from the touch panel 9 and highlights the Q4 block 65of the touch panel 9 through the panel controller 27. Of course, it isalso possible to skip a plurality of examination items.

In Embodiment 3, by thus merely selecting any of subsequent examinationblocks which are not highlighted on the touch panel 9, an unnecessaryexamination in the series of examinations can be skipped very easily toreduce the burden on subjects (the fetus and the mother in thisembodiment) while increasing the examination efficiency.

Embodiment 4

In cases where the body weight of a fetus is calculated in any of theultrasound diagnostic apparatuses in Embodiments 1 to 3, the body weightis estimated using measured values of the above-described BPD(biparietal diameter), AC (abdominal circumference) and FL (femurlength) but as for the measurement accuracy on the ultrasound image, thevalues greatly change due to some operation and are therefore to bedetermined in some cases after the whole is once checked.

In such a case, whether the body weight value is a value before or afterthe reflection of the measured values (examination information) obtainedby the examinations is preferably recognizable on the touch panel 9. Inthis case, whether the body weight value is a value before or after thereflection of the examination information may be recognizable byhighlighting the shape of the examination block as shown in FIG. 8A.

Some examination programs execute the same examination a plurality oftimes and use the average of measured values.

In such a case, the series of examinations can be preferably recognizedon the touch panel 9 as to whether the first measurement or the secondmeasurement is performed. In this case, the ultrasound diagnosticapparatus can be configured so that the number of examinations can beknown, for example, by displaying the number of examinations on theexamination block in a superimposed manner, as shown in FIG. 8B.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may also be configured so that theoperator selects an already executed examination block included in theseries of examination blocks displayed on the touch panel to return tothe already executed examination item and execute this examination itemand its subsequent series of examination items again. Also in this case,as described above, the number of examinations is preferably displayedon the examination block for which the examination was performed aplurality of times.

While the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus of the invention has beendescribed above in detail, the invention is by no means limited to theabove embodiments, and various improvements and modifications may bemade without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus which transmits ultrasonic waves from an ultrasound probe toward a subject, produces an ultrasound image in a diagnostic apparatus body based on reception data obtained and performs an examination based on said ultrasound image, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an operation monitor simultaneously displaying in blocks a name of said desired examination and a series of examination items that can be performed in said desired examination within a screen, said series of examination items being arranged in chronological order according to a procedure; and a controller causing said operation monitor to highlight a block of an examination item included in said series of examination items and being currently performed, wherein said series of examination items is any one selected from a series of vascular examinations, a series of obstetric examinations, a series of examinations for measuring amount of amniotic fluid and a series of examinations for measuring a body weight of fetus, and wherein said controller causes said operation monitor to display a number of performed examinations.
 2. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation selector for allowing an operator to select an examination item from among said series of examination items displayed in blocks on said operation monitor, wherein, in response to a selection of the examination item through said operation selector, said controller controls said diagnostic apparatus body such that the examination item selected from among said series of examination items and its subsequent one or more examination items are executed.
 3. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller controls said diagnostic apparatus body such that said series of examination items are started from the examination item selected through said operation selector.
 4. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in response to a selection of a subsequent examination item through said operation selector with one or more preceding examination items still remaining unexecuted, said controller controls said diagnostic apparatus body such that said one or more preceding examination items still remaining unexecuted are skipped to execute said subsequent examination item.
 5. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in response to a selection of an already executed examination item through said operation selector, said controller controls said diagnostic apparatus body such that said already executed examination item selected from among said series of examination items and its subsequent one or more examination items are executed.
 6. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said operation monitor and said operation selector each comprise a touch panel.
 7. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation selector for allowing an operator to select an examination item as a start position of the series from among said series of examination items displayed in blocks on said operation monitor.
 8. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation selector for allowing an operator to input a default start position as an examination item from among said series of examination items displayed in blocks on said operation monitor.
 9. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation selector for allowing an operator to select an examination item to be skipped from among said series of examination items displayed in blocks on said operation monitor.
 10. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation selector for allowing an operator to select a plurality of examination items to be skipped from among said series of examination items displayed in blocks on said operation monitor. 